Transducer



United States atent TRANSDUCER- Riflrrt GINisIe; Battle'svill,- kla., assignor to Phillips Petroleum.C6mpahy,' a corporation of Delaware 7 Application-WEBB; 195S;:Serial1No". 51550921 I- 13 Claims. (Cl: 31 84-128) W This invention relates to. transducers; liiafioth'e'r aspectffit r'elai'eszto'a systemfcrprgodircin' an electrical"out-- put representative of ca *mechanicaldisplacement? Varioustypes' of transducers have "been. roposed "telprotlucingtan'electricalcutput'representingza mechanical displacement. H'ovvev'e'r; intcertain application's; probleirls arise'inconnection'-=with the construction and" operation of such transducersi. Forcxam'pl'e; ifthe transducer is sulficiently sensitive. tofrespondto mi'nutef displacements, theelctri'caloutput is correspondinglysmall;and must be' arnplified before any useful result can be' obtained. Conversely, if the transducers itself" produces "a satisfactot-y electrical" output, it is not suflicientlyi" sensitive "to measure'small and o'rrapidhisp'lacements:

I1i"'accordance with this invention; a magnetic amplifier unit isfincorpiorated *in the" transducer itself Witlfthe 'resulfitliafla high electrical output isobtain ect without sacrifice'of sensitihity'jand specdbfresponset" Ifithi'sim'anner; smallWariattidhsin"temperature, pressure and "mechartical" deflection can be-mea'suredwith great accuracy are small compact unifwliich producesan electrical'out- "put sufficient-to directly' actuate an alarm; indicator orr power-device;

Accordifi'glyfit is anobject of the invention to"provide an improved mech'ano electric transducer:

It is a fui-ther object to provide' such a device that will produce a highelectricaloutput without sacrifice of "s'ensitivityand/or speed'ofr esponse. 7

It is a further object to-provide a self-"'containedcompaet unit of-this type -not 're'q'uirin'g' external amplificatioilof th'er'esultaht signali Variousmtherobjcts; advantagevand features of the invention will bcon'ie apparent--fi'om*-tlr following detailedidescriptidn' taken 'in conjuhction-witli the accentpanyingdrawiiigs, in wh'iclii- Figureild's a'vertiearsectional' view cfa' transducer con- ,structed in accordance with the' invention;

nulartsection "11: having po'le' pieces" 11h; 1Tb" ioined by awcentral portion 11c; An annular core'secticn' l'z is imounted:axiallyf. within the section 11 and-'secur'ed the'reto'--by ithelcoilsshereaftee described so as' to' defineannulanzair :gapst lS; 16 withthe adj Dining; pole pieesillz,

1lb; respectively. Both sections of the' core are'formed' iromiparama'gnetie materiall- Amexcitationawindinguis defined byttwo annularecoils 17a,e17b which are; wound around the'lcentralscoretpiece 12 anddisposed in, side-by side 1 relationship at-the central portion of- -the.member. An annular feedback-winding or coil [18' is wound aroundth coil sections -17a, 11b, .andt-thisfeedback Winding istdisposedcentrally; with respect to the pole pieces 11a and 11b.

A rodll), which: extends axially within the coretpie ce 12 isflmounted for relative movement' with respect-to the core 10, iaseby, leaf springsuspension units 7 21b, 21b and .the rod '20lcarris' a pair of cylindrical signal windings or coils, 22" and 231whi'chare mounted. in opposite ends..of the core section. 12 within .the respective air gaps" 1 5 and 16.. The. spring suspension ZI thus permits limited axial movement of..the signal.windings .z2g 23 .withre- The output cii'cuit27"also' includes arectifier bridge SWhaVing? one set 302i, 305' of apposite terminals. connected inseries with the winding 11am alternating current"souifc'e 25;"26'? Tli'othei' set ofopp'osite terminals sea-sew offthebfidige' ea. is connected" inlseries with the feedback winding" 18 and the" output" terminals 28;]29 withthe i rloadi'29ii' It willhe evident thatthelimpedance-cfuhe winding is'f controls the v mdunt"of: lternatjug 'curr'ent'TfronY'the source 25; 26 which is fed to. the

outputte'rminals 23, 191 Moreover," a portion ofth'e voltage'appearing" in the output circuit is rectified" and applidftoithe feedback winding 18. In the circuit illustratedy the output voltage;is"a pulsating direct voltage which-is a fuiicti'o'n'of'thedisplacemehtof the signal windmgs. e

A direct bias voltage is applied to the signal windings 22 23 Whichare connected in 'series opposing'relation by acircuit including"a'rectifienbridge 32"; This bridgefhas 0116*56F32Zti 3277' ot opposite terminals connected" toth'e res 'ective tenninals '2511 26 "of the alternating "current source throu'gli'a' variable resistance '33. The otherset offoppositeteiminals "32c, 322i is lconnected'in series 'with the signalv'vinding's 22;?23 and a variable resistance 34, the windin'gsdff fi' having a'con'dens'er 33d=coi1nected in parallel therewith Condenser 33a constitutesa filter and is only intendedto indicate the presence of afilter. More filtering thank/provided by a single condenser may ini some ca's'es bete'quired: Thus, a filtered direct voltage is applie'd to "the signal coil winding which, can be adjusted -"by the variable resist-ances-33and 34;

The:displacement output characteristic of the-circuit is 4 shown: in Figure 4 for a circuit; wherein the ampere turns of the coil 18 are'Wi'thinthe ran e 056010175 percent ofrthe ampereuturns= of th winding 17;- It will be noteddhatta "steep-characteristic is :exhibitedat tlie pol"- tion-35a of th'ecurvev close towzero'displacementawliile the curve is considerably more i sh-allow at: the portions 35b. aintLBScsrepresenting respectively, positive:and='negative displacement of the signal coi-le By a-slighttincre'ase in the numbenof. turns of the feedback windings-Bathe characteristic of Figure 5 can be obtained wherem the steep part of the characteristic-36a is. substantially a vertical line. with more shallow rising .-portions-36b ande36c asthe displacement isvariedefrom-zeroy,

edl"at'efally'along the displacement axis by adjusting the The characteristics illustrated By- F igure 5 cambetshiftgreases a s bias fed to the signal coil 22, 23 through manipulation of variable resistances 33 and 34. Moreover, by substantially reducing the number of turns of the feedback winding 18, a characteristic can be obtained wherein the curve exhibits a more symmetrical rising patternon each side of zero deflection while, by increasing the number of turns of the feedback winding 18, a condition of binary stability can be obtained, the characteristic curve general- 1y resembling, in this instance, a hysteresis curve.

It will be evident from the foregoing, that the ampere turns ratio of the feedback and excitation windings determines the shape of the characteristic curve'while the bias voltage applied to the windings 22, 23 determines the position of the characteristic curve along the displacement axis. Further, as the coils 22, 23 are mechanically displaced, the turns of one signal winding move closer to the core while the turns of the other signal winding move further away from the core. When this occurs, the efiects of the signal coil, which were null at the neutral or rest position due to their series-opposing connection, no longer balance each other and a signal appears in the output circuit as determined by the characteristic curves. In particular, when operating at the steep portion 35a or 36a of the characteristic, a very large change in the output signal across the load resistor is produced by a small displacement of the signal windings.

As previously noted, the circuit of Figure 2 produces a pulsating direct current output. This circuit is used where the displacement of the signal occurs slowly, i. e., the input is of essentially direct current character. Where the displacement is of a periodic or alternating character, the circuit of Figure 3 is utilized. In this circuit, the terminals 28 and 29 are connected through a condenser 42 to the primary winding of a transformer 43, and an alternating current signal is withdrawn from the secondary winding of this transformer. In this manner, the direct current component of the output signal is eliminated.

It will be evident that, with either modification of the circuit, the benefits of the invention are achieved in that a small displacement is converted into a large change in output current without use of a separate amplifying system. In this manner, a number of circuit components are eliminated Without sacrifice of sensitivity and speed of response to the displacement to be measured. I

In Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, I have illustrated several of the many important uses of the invention. Thus, in Figure 6, a pressure-responsive bellows 50 is mechanically connected to the rod 20 of the transducer so that an electrical output is produced responsive to changes in pressure upon the bellows. The electrical output can be fed to a pressure indicating system or, alternatively, to an alarm which registers whenever the pressure rises or falls a predetermined amount above or below a selected value.

In Figure 7, the rod 20 is mechanically connected to a Bourdon tube 51 which, in turn, is connected to a temperature sensing element 52 in a reactor 53 where the temperature is to be indicated or controlled. Expansion of the fluid within the element 52 causes movement of the Bourdon tube 51 which, in turn, moves the rod and signal coils of the transducer to produce an electrical output representative of temperature.

, In Figure 8, the rod 20 is connected mechanically to a bi-metallic expansion element 54 supported by a base 55. Movement of the bi-metal strip responsive to temperature changes produces a corresponding movement of the rod and signal coils with resultant changes in the electrical output of the transducer.

In Figure 9, the rod 20 is connected to a member 56 whose deflection is to be measured, for example, a cantilever beam supported on a base 57. Slow, or rapid periodic movement of the beam in response to. applied stress produces a corresponding movement of the rod and signalwindings, with the result that the electrical output '4 of the transducer is representative of the stress applied to the beam.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the transducer of my invention has varied useful applications in measurement and control of industrial operations. In particular, process variables which can be represented as a mechanical displacement are accurately transformed into corresponding electrical outputs without the necessity of providing bulky external amplifiers.

In Figure 10, I have shown a modified form of transducer. This unit includes two core sections 60 and 61 each having a central annular portion 62, an outer annular portion 63, a transverse section 64 and a pole piece 65, these pole pieces defining a pair of air gaps 66 and 67, respectively. All portions of the core are formed from paramagnetic material, and the sections 64 are separated by a magnetic shield 68 having sections 69 of insulative material on both sides thereof.

A rod 70 of non-magnetic material extends axially through the core section 62 and carries coils 71, 72 which are disposed within the respective air gaps 66 and 67. The assembly including coils 71, 72 is supported for relative movement with respect to the core by leaf springs 73 and 74. A pair of excitation windings 75 and 76 are disposed within the respective cores 60 and 61.

Referring now to Figure 11, it will be noted that a rectifier bridge 80 has one set 80a, 80b of opposite terminals connected to an alternating current source 81 through a variable resistance 82, the other set of opposite terminals 80c, 80d of the bridge being connected in series with a variable resistance 83 and the signal windings 71 and 72, a condenser 84 being connected in parallel with the windings 71 and 72. The source 81 is further connected to the primary winding of a transformer 85, the secondary winding of which is connected in parallel with two circuits. One of these circuits includes the excitation winding 75, a rectifier 86 and a rectifier 87 while the other circuit includes the excitation winding 76 a rectifier 88 and a rectifier 89. Aload, represented by a resistance 90, has one terminal connected to the junction between rectifiers 86, 87 and its other terminal connected to the junction between rectifiers 88 and 89. It will .be noted that no feedback winding is utilized in the circuit of Figure 11, and that an adjustable bias potential is applied to the signal windings 71, 72 in the manner already described in connection with Figure 2.

In operation, movement of the signal coil responsive to an external displacement causes one signal coil to move away from its associated core and the other signal coil to move closer to its signal coil, thus increasing the impedance of one winding 75, 76 and decreasing the impedance of the other winding of this set. This causes the voltage across load resistor 90 to vary as a function of the displacement of the signal coils. In this circuit, it will be noted that the coils 71, 72, while mechanically connected, function in two entirely separate magnetic circuits due to the interposition of the magnetic shield 68, Figure 10. The voltage across the load can be ap plied to control any suitable alarm or indicating device while the signal coils can be displaced in accordance with any variable to be measured, for example, as shown in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive. The circuit of Figure 11 is useful for the displacement to be measured varies slowly with time, i. e., is of a generally direct current nature.

Where the input displacement varies periodically, the circuit of Figure 12 is utilized. In this circuit, parts already described are indicated by reference numerals corresponding to those of Figure 11. In this circuit, the load, represented by a resistance 91, is connected in series with the secondary winding of transformer 85, and this series combination is connected in parallel with two circuits, one of which includes excitation winding 75 and a rectifier 92 connected in series, the other circuit including excitation winding 76 and a rectifier 93 connected in series, the rectifiers 92 and 93 being of opposite polarity.

While the. invention has been described connection present,l.preferred fernbodini'ents thereof; 'itis to be understood that this description. is illustrative: only: and is not intended 'to 1imit.the.invention-..

I claim:

1 A trans ducer coruprisir1g;- incombinatio n,=r :a core of paramagneticwmaterial, asuspensiomla signal winding secured to said suspension, an excitation winding and a feedbaclci-winding disposed in fixed relation to said core,

all of Said-*Windings-beingmagnetically coupledv'to said winding, an output. circuit including-.a load, a current source, and said excitation winding, means for feeding a portion of the' outputyoltage"fibnrsaid circuitt'o said feedback winding, and means for effecting relative movement between said core and said signal winding in response to a displacement to be measured.

2. The transducer of claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means is a pressure-sensitive bellows mechanically connected to said signal winding.

3. The transducer of claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned means is a Bourdon tube mechanically connected to said signal Winding and having a portion exposed to a zone wherein temperature is to be measured.

4. The transducer of claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned means is a bi-metallic expansion element mechanically connected to said signal winding.

5. The transducer of claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned means is a member Whose deflection is to be measured, said member being mechanically connected to said signal winding.

6. A transducer comprising, in combination, a core of paramagnetic material, a signal winding mounted for relative movement with respect to said core, an excitation winding and a feedback winding in fixed position relative to said core, all of said windings being magnetically coupled to said core, a source of alternating current, a rectifier connecting said source to said signal winding to provide a predetermined bias voltage for said signal winding, an output circuit including a load, said excitation winding and said current source, a rectifier connecting said output circuit to said feedback winding to apply a direct current feedback voltage thereto, and means for effecting relative movement between said core and said signal winding responsive to a displacement to be measured.

7. A transducer comprising, in combination, a core of paramagnetic material, a signal winding mounted for relative movement with respect to said core, an excitation winding and 'a feedback winding in fixed position relative to said core and magnetically coupled thereto, a source of alternating current, a rectifier connecting said source to said signal winding to provide a predetermined bias voltage for said signal winding, an output circuit including a load resistor, a rectifier bridge, said excitation winding and said current source, said bridge having one set of opposite terminals connected in series with said current source and said excitation winding, and the other set of opposite terminals connected in series with said load and said feedback winding to apply a direct current feedback voltage thereto, and means for elfecting relative movement between said core and said signal winding responsive to a displacement to be measured.

8. A transducer comprising, in combination, a core of paramagnetic material, a signal winding mounted for relative movement with respect to said core, an excitation winding and a feedback winding in fixed position relative to said core and magnetically coupled thereto, a source of alternating current, a rectifier connecting said source to said signal winding to provide a predetermined bias voltage for said signal winding, an output circuit including a load resistor, a rectifier bridge, said excitation winding anu said. em'rent source; aidt ridge having one set of :bpposit" terminals connected inf' seri'e'siiwitli *said current source and' said'excitatiomwin g and 'tlie' oth'er set of oppQsitf termirrals connected in .series'1'witiisaid loadand "said feedbackwindirig 1o apply a direct current feedback?voltage-thereto; means, tot-"effecting relative movement "between saidcore andsaicf signal windingire sponsiveto" a .displ'acementto"be measuredg and' an output transformer v,having .a primary? winding" connected through a 'condeusertosaid'Toadresistor;'

9. A transducer comprising;in"combination, a 'core of paramagnetic material, i a"signa'l windiii'giinrounted' for "relative movementwitnrespecttdsaid 'core,': ani'excitation winding "and. fa feedback=windingflin fixed position relative" to saidf here; all of" 'sa id' 'windings being magnetically. coupled toj saidcbrej a" sourceiuf alternating current, a resistor,;a"firstrectifierbridgefhavingione set of opposite terminals connected tothe respective'teirninals of said current source through said resistor, a variable resistance, leads connecting the other set of opposite terminals of said rectifier bridge in series with said variable resistance and said signal winding, a second rectifier bridge, means connecting one set of opposite terminals of said second rectifier bridge in series with said excitation winding and said current source, a load, leads connecting the other set of terminals of said second rectifier bridge in series with said load and said feedback winding, and means for moving said signal winding relative to said core in response to a displacement to be measured.

10.-A transducer comprising, in combination, a core of paramagnetic material, a signal winding consisting of two coils connected in series-opposing relation mounted for relative movement with respect to said core, an excitation winding consisting of two coils connected in series-opposed relationship and a feedback Winding in fixed position relative to said core, all of said windings being magnetically coupled to said core, a source of alternating current, a first rectifier bridge having one pair of opposite terminals connected to the respective terminals of said current source, a variable resistance, leads connecting the other set of opposite terminals of said rectifier bridge through said variable resistance to said signal Winding, a second rectifier bridge, means connecting one set of opposite terminals of said second rectifier bridge through said excitation winding to the respective terminals of said current source, a load resistance, leads connecting the other set of opposite terminals of said second rectifier bridge in series with said load and said feedback winding, the inductance of said windings, and the circuit resistances being adjusted to provide a steep output-dis placement characteristic at a predetermined region of displacement and a shallow characteristic at other displacement regions, and means for moving said signal coils relative to said core in response to a displacement to be measured.

11. A transducer comprising, in combination, a core including an annular section and a cylindrical section disposed within and concentrically of said annular section, both sections being formed from paramagnetic material, a coil support, a spring suspension connecting said support to said core, a pair of cylindrical coils secured to said support and arranged to encircle opposite ends of said cylindrical core section, respectively, a pair of excitation coils connected in series-opposed relationship Wound on the central portion of said cylindrical core piece, and a cylindrical feedback winding wound around said excitation windings.

12. A transducer comprising, in combination, a pair of magnetically separate core elements, a pair of excitation windings magnetically coupled to the respective core ele ments, a support mounted for relative movement with respect to said core elements, a pair of signal windings secured to said support, and magnetically coupled to the respective coils, means supplying a fixed bias voltage to said signal windings, a source of alternating current, a

respect to said first rectifier all connected in'series, said second circuit including the other excitation winding, a

third rectifier, and a fourth rectifier of opposite polarity with respect to said third rectifier all' connected in series, said first and third rectifiers being of opposite polarity and said second and fourth rectifiers being of opposite polarity, and means connecting a load between the junctions of the two sets of rectifier's,

said signal windings, a source of alternating current, ineans" connecting a load in series with said source, leads connecting the series combination of load and current source in parallel with two circuits, one circuit .including one signal winding and a rectifier connected in series, theother circuit including thetothcr signal winding and a second rectifier connected in series therewith,

said rectifiers being of opposite polarity;

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,118,862 Rayment et al. May 31, 1938 2,240,184 Hathaway Apr. 29, 1941 2,621,224 Priest Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS France July 7, 1954 

